Spark plug



Jan. 28, 1936. R, olv-1N E1- AL v 2,028,749

SPARK PLUG Filed Dec. 4. 1929 alfa: nn

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARK PLUGApplication December 4, 1929, Serial No. 411,545

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to the treatment of hydrogen compounds in general,and particularly to such compounds as hydrocarbon fuels, and resides ina novel-method for treating such com- 5. pounds tol increase or decreasetheir hydrogen content, and includes novel processes and articles ofmanufacture which enhance the useful results attainable through saidmethod. Our invention, thus, comprises not only the method for vary- 1Qing the existing hydrogen content of hydrogen compounds, but ofutilizing the altered 'compounds in conjunction with new processes andarticles of manufacture whereby certain novel and beneficial results areobtained. It has, among its objects, the cheapening of production ofhydrocarbon fuels; the increase of the combustibility thereof; and theimprovement of combustion in internal combustion engines. Other objectsand advantages ofthe invention will be obvious to those skilled in theart from the hereinafter more detailed description thereof.

In carrying out our invention we utilize the well-known fact that themetal palladium and some of its alloys, (for example, palladium 60%,silver 40%) have the characteristics of combining with hydrogen, over awide range of temperatures, to form a surface coating, presumablyconsisting of PdzH-z. We have observed, and we believe that thediscovery is new with us, that palladiumand some of its alloys have thecharacteristic of combining, over a wide vrange of temperature,similarly, with hydrocarbon compounds, both saturated and unsaturated.We have also observed, and` we believe that this discovery is new withus, that a stream of molecular hydrogen directed against a contactsurface comprising hydrogen-treated palladium or palladium alloycontinues indefinitely to yield a liberation of nascent hydrogen. Inutilizing the palladiumhydrogen compound above described, we employ itas a. contact agent to liberate nascent hydrogen from a. substancecapable of giving up some or all of its hydrogen content in the presenceof a substance capable of combining with such liberated nascenthydrogen. Our invention thus comprises subjecting a hydrocarbon compoundto the influence of nascent hydrogen in the presence of anothersubstance capable of combining therewith.

Fig. 1 isa conventional illustration, partly in section, of an ordinaryspark plug to which our invention may be applied, and represents apractical adaptation of the invention in the form of an article ofmanufacture;

115g.v 2 is an end view of a `spark plug showing (Cl. 12S-169) anothermode of applying our invention to a known construction of spark plug.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a spark plug, showing still anothermodification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a` fragmentary vertical sectional View of a spark plug showingstill another mode of applying our invention thereto; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a'rider adapted to be snapped over the lateralelectrode of a spark plug as shown in Fig. 2.

In Figure 1 we have illustrated a typical spark plug in which A'represents the outside shell of the spark plug, and B the insulatedportion thereof. Cl represents a horizontal or lateral electrode and C2a vertical electrode, the igniting spark passing across the gap betweenthese electrodes.

In one embodiment of our invention, we plate either or both of theelectrodes CI and C2 with palladium or palladium alloy, as shown in Fig.1.

In another embodiment of our invention, we plate the rim 3' of the sparkplug (Figure 4) with palladium or palladium alloy; while in stillanother modification, we may incorporate a wire of palladium orpalladium alloy'as at 4 (Figure 3), between the horizontal electrode CIand a point at right-angles on the rim or at any other point.

In another embodiment of our invention, we provide a rider 5 (Figure 5),the loop portion of which is plated with palladium or palladium alloy.This rider may bey conveniently snapped over the electrode Cl as at 5'of Figure 2. By the use of such rider, the invention may be applied to'existing internal' combustion engines without disassembling the engineor making mechanical changes in it, using, infact, the 'existing sparkplug, the contact agent being detachable and merely snapped into placeand heldby friction.

As a result of thus positioning our contact agent near the point ofignition, as aboveexplained, the operation of our invention isautomatically carried on by the functioning of the engine itself asfollows: The functioning of an internal combustion engine implies theintroduction of a hydrocarbon fuel charge, the compression of suchcharge, the combustion thereof; the removal of exhaust gases. Duringeach of these cycles, our palladium member is in contact withhydrocarbon compounds or molecular hydrogen so that its surface readilybecomes coated with the palladium-hydrogen compound heretoforedescribed. In fact, we have observed, and we believe 'that thisdiscovery is new with us, that a palvladium member such as we 'employpositioned instant of ignition, due to the presence of hydrocarboncompounds, and enhanced by the heat and pressure which prevail at thatcycle of .in-

ternal combustion operation, our contact member liberates .considerablequantities of nascent hydrogen which, through causing rapid chemicalreactions, greatly enhance the process of combus` tion. The eect of ourinvention is to provide a more readily combustible substance at thepoint of ignition, which increases the speed of naine propagation, thecompleteness of combusti-on,

- and, thus, the effectiveness of the power stroke.

It may be pointed out that in the practice ofl ourinvention, thefunctioning of the palladium contact agent may continue indenitelywitheu't loss of eiciency or depreciation. Each new charge of fuelbrings a fresh supply of dissocianle hydrocarbon to be converted intonaseent hydrogen which, in turn, nds other sub-stances, as oxygen, withwhich to combine, the combination resulting in improved combustion.

Our invention will also be iound useful in the artcf refining petroleum,through providing a simple means for reducing or eliminating unsaturatedhydrocarbons from hydrocarbon mixtures, a step which is at presentaccomplished with much greater difficuity and expense; and in thesubtraction of hydrogen from hydrocarbon compounds which forms the basisof various processes of cracking 'Ihe invention has many other uses notonly connected with the refining of peteleum but iii-ether industries inwhich iiydrocarbon compounds are made or used.

The invention will further be found of great value to all u'sers ofinternai combustion engines, since it operates to produce greater powerfrom a given quantity o fuel, better acceleration, at

l inemcient engine speeds and easier starting and operation at alltinies, and particularly before the engine has rl '.ciied its normalworking temperature. The use of our invention in connectionwith theengines, of automobiles gives an immediate and continuing sense of powerand a marked improvement in the smoothness of power ow.

In the foregoing, we have given only a few of the embodiments of ourinvention, but we believe 'them sumcient to enable one skilled in theart to employ it in conjunction with the manufacture and use of manyother hydrocarbon compounds winch are equivalent to those we have sited.

, Many modications of our invention can be made Without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof as dened in the appended claims, and ourinvention is tobe understood es not limited to the particularembodiments chosen for the purpose of illustration.

We claim as our inventionz- 1. In combination with a spark plug forinternal combustion engines, a contact member containing palladium. I

2. A spark plug adapted for use in an internal combustion fengine, theelectrodes of said plug having a coating of pailadium.

4 3. A spark plug adapted for use in an internai combustion engine, saidplug having a palladium member attached to one of its terminals.

4. A spark plug adapted for use in an internal combustion engine, saidplug having a palladium-bearing member attached to one of its terminals.

Y ROBERT JOHN.

ERWIN F. SPELIMEYER.

